How are some people not hungry when below their calories?

victoria4321
victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
edited November 11 in Health and Weight Loss
I always see posts about some people having trouble eating enough. I'd be so drained during my work outs if I don't eat enough.

For everyone who has trouble eating enough is it more mental or are you just not hungry anymore?
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Replies

  • LuciendaB
    LuciendaB Posts: 8
    I honestly dont know how I'm not hungry, I love food and I definitely did not start myself but according to my food diary I should have eaten another 1013 calories. I made sure I listed everything I ate, But I still had so many calories left over. Maybe the caloric intake is off? The more protein you eat the less hungry you feel, so that could definitely be it..
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    A lot of hormonal and mental issue go into feelings of hunger and why people eat.

    If it wereas simple as calorie needs, no one would ever get fat.
  • anfmusicgrl
    anfmusicgrl Posts: 63 Member
    Good question, and I'd say UponThisRock is right...

    There are days (like today) I feel ravenous lol, and have NO problem eating all of my calories, and other days where I have to make myself reach 1300 calories.

    Hormones, mental state, etc, I guess are at play...and other things we probably aren't aware of.
  • aSunflower
    aSunflower Posts: 73 Member
    I don't know why either. I finally decided on some rules:

    1. Always eat at least 1200 calories.
    2. On M/W/F- always eat back all my exercise calories.
    3. The rest of the week I attempt to eat at least half.

    I can tell you that since I started really exercising (Zumba and more) I do actually get hungry more. My body wants its exercise calories back!
  • victoria4321
    victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
    I wish I could have that problem lol. I was getting dizzy during any weight training when I was eating 1200 calories a day so I upped it to 1400 and that stopped. I tend to eat over a lot too but I still seem to be losing around 1lb a week. I have mine set for a 1lb a week loss anyway. My bmr must be higher maybe because I eat over by 300-500 cals quite often.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    after prolonged undereating you actually become less hungry.A huge part of it is mental but it's also physical. Your body learns to function on fewer calories which isn't ideal actually.
  • Willpowerofsteel
    Willpowerofsteel Posts: 20
    I don't know either! I had my calorie goals set at a 2 lb/week weight loss and I just couldn't do it, I was starving all day long! I upped them to a 1 lb/week weight loss and now I'm much happier. I always get confused when someone's goal is like 1200 calories and they are asking for advice on how to eat more.
  • jayne_mel
    jayne_mel Posts: 173 Member
    For me it's all mental honestly. I find food exhausting and I'm uninterested in it. I will forget to eat some times. I'll admit though I haven't had the overweight issue. Ay 5'10 my highest has been 141 and my lowest is 104.5.
  • LisaJ2904
    LisaJ2904 Posts: 157 Member
    Agree with the above(not directly above I enjoy food too much) . personally sometimes I dont get hungry and because of the types of food I eat this is normal lots of fresh fruit etc. I have 1200 calories per day before exercise and I feel like I am constantlyy eating . I'm always like oh it's food time again. Other days usually when I have been on my feet a lot or done extra exercise I am ravenous and could eat a big fat sandwich . Luckily those days are few and far between. I'm losing around 1.5 pounds per week.
  • wendinbill
    wendinbill Posts: 48

    There are days (like today) I feel ravenous lol, and have NO problem eating all of my calories, and other days where I have to make myself reach 1300 calories.

    Hormones, mental state, etc, I guess are at play...and other things we probably aren't aware of.

    Ditto. Some days I am fine with some left, other days I am starving. Yesterday I had nearly 400 left! Today, I made myself eat a granola bar to use up some. (these are workout calories, mind you.) When I have only 1200, I eat those babies!!!
  • HauteP1nk
    HauteP1nk Posts: 2,139 Member
    I think it would depend on a variety of things... Each person's metabolism is different, each person drinks different amounts of water, some people have different sized stomachs, etc. It could be that they are eating way more vegetables and lean proteins so it helps them stay fuller longer without consuming too many cals.
  • neesey918
    neesey918 Posts: 11
    For me, drinking extra water helps with that. Also if you're really hungry and can't afford the calories, Sugar Free Jello can satisfy.
  • kris523sydney
    kris523sydney Posts: 34
    I guess you get used to eating less.
  • Jers43
    Jers43 Posts: 100
    when I get busy at work or play sometimes I just forget to eat. I get so into what I am doing. Monday I worked 16 hrs till 2 am and was slammed busy ... got hungry at 2am had to settle for 7-11 nachos!
  • nickyfm
    nickyfm Posts: 1,214 Member
    I only get ravenous on days that I have absolutely smashed myself with weights and/or cardio. And even then I remain under, just make sure to have my bigger meal after my work out :)

    I don't really get too hungry nowadays because I'm constantly eating small meals throughout the day, and drinking heaps of water.

    Oh and I also have a huge *kitten* bowl of dinner every night. It usually averages between 300-350 cals, I just beef it up with tons of veggies, and my 55 cal buckwheat ramen :D
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    I always see posts about some people having trouble eating enough. I'd be so drained during my work outs if I don't eat enough.

    For everyone who has trouble eating enough is it more mental or are you just not hungry anymore?

    It all depends upon what a person eats, rather than their calorie amount. Lots of protein is very filling, but lots of carbs are not - it will be the carbs that are high in calories though.
  • TriforceRaven
    TriforceRaven Posts: 115 Member
    after prolonged undereating you actually become less hungry.A huge part of it is mental but it's also physical. Your body learns to function on fewer calories which isn't ideal actually.

    This is very correct.

    As for me, I know how to make a few calories go a long way. And part of it IS mental. I can't "allow" myself to eat more than a certain amount on purpose.
  • mrsking218
    mrsking218 Posts: 157 Member
    Got me! I love food and I ALWAYS eat all my calories, and definitely could eat a lot more (but try not to!) Even when I'm "under" its usually by a tiny amount. And that's set at 1 pound lost a week. I have no idea how the 2 pound loss a week people do it! Definitely not for me!
  • slightner
    slightner Posts: 61 Member
    It seems to me to depend on what I ate. Some days I had really filling low calorie meals and they just stuck with me. Other times meals left me hungry in a couple of hours. So I have been trying to modify the low cal high fill meals and have more of them! I love chicken with salsa and red orage yellow and green peppers, I put it in an 80 cal tortilla with a tbsp of fat free sour cream and a little reduced fat shredded cheese and it keeps me full for a long time, even with me doing the 30 day shred!
  • victoria4321
    victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
    Got me! I love food and I ALWAYS eat all my calories, and definitely could eat a lot more (but try not to!) Even when I'm "under" its usually by a tiny amount. And that's set at 1 pound lost a week. I have no idea how the 2 pound loss a week people do it! Definitely not for me!

    Lol same for me. I think I might be under estimating my calorie losses as well. I lift heavy 3 to 4 times a week and mfp says I burn around 130 cals each time. Thats probably why eating over by so much isn't affecting me yet.
  • missfancy1980
    missfancy1980 Posts: 326
    I posted on this very issue earlier. I have eaten a ton today. then when I ate a few more things just to up my calories (i still needed 300) i felt horrible and bloated! Even when i wasn't eating the healthy stuff i am now, i was rarely over 1400 cals a day as I am vegetarian and don't eat calorie/ fat laden meats etc. I think this site overestimates how many cals certain ppl need. There are very few women i know who can eat above 1800 cals without feeling awful!
  • FitSuperwoman
    FitSuperwoman Posts: 13
    I workout in the mornings and burn around 700 calories a day and i always have trouble trying to to eat all my calories when i plan out my meals ...but when i dont plan them out im always overeating lol...but im not usually hungry because i snack between meals...and drink alot of water ? idk..
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    I eat high protein and low processed foods so getting my calorie goal is difficult. I make it to about 1500 a day when working out hard but I choke myself doing it. I work out at night which makes it hard. I also drink a lot of coffee which takes away my appetite.

    Basically, I understand how you could think that but when you eat a lot of protein and wholesome foods your body just isn't hungry sometimes.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    after prolonged undereating you actually become less hungry.A huge part of it is mental but it's also physical. Your body learns to function on fewer calories which isn't ideal actually.

    exactly this!!!
  • AshleyTonks
    AshleyTonks Posts: 12 Member
    I think it's both mental and physical. I drink a lot more water now and that definitely helps.
  • obsidianwings
    obsidianwings Posts: 1,237 Member
    I'm just not hungry, I drink plenty of water, and if I do get a little peckish but it is to late at night I have a green tea with honey (except last night when I had a sneaky treat lol). I put it down to eating good foods, spaced out nicely throughout the day.
    I am only just starting to get back into my exercise though, I plan to ramp it up again next week, so may be hungrier then.
  • WheyStrong
    WheyStrong Posts: 71 Member
    Depends what you eat. I've been upping my protein intake and avoiding high calorie dense foods and find it very easy to stay around or under my cal maintenance.
  • QueenJayJay
    QueenJayJay Posts: 1,079 Member
    Why is the sky blue?
    Why do people eat spam?
    Why do people watch American Idol?


    ...questions that will never be answered.
  • DrG3n3
    DrG3n3 Posts: 467 Member
    There are a lot of hormonal things in triggering being hungry and things like that. I have also recently read (I have no source atm but feel free to google it) that if you're body is functioning fine and you haven't driven yourself with activity (extra activity) and eating regularly, your body will not send hunger signals because it knows that it will be fed.
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    when i first started i had a very hard time eating all my calories, and quite often i forced myself to eat when i didnt feel hungry. part of it was that i under ate for so long, my body was used to it and it was rough to eat more than one meal a day. ive found that lately, i will start to feel a bit hungry if i miss a meal or snack as my body is now getting used to having enough food. though i still have times when i dont feel hungry at meal times. i eat what i can
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